Differential driving mechanism.



T. L. BEGUHN.

DIFFERENTIAL DRIVING MECHANISM.

APPLIOATION FILED APBJH 1011.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1 T. L. BEGUHN.

DIFFERENTIAL DRIVING MECHANISM.

APPLICATION FILED APRI27, 1011.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

2 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

.tions :1 earin in UNITE iTATES PATENT OFFICE.

THEODORE L. IBEGUHN, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

DIFFERENTIAL DRIVING MECHANISM.

Application filed April 27. 1911.

[ all w/wm it may concern:

Be it known that I, T Hnononn L. BEGUHN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Detroit, in the county of \Vayne, State of Michigan, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Differential Driving Mechanism; and I do declare the following to he a hill, clear, and exact description of the invention, such will enable otliersshilled in tho art to which it appertains to make and use the. same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked. thereon, which form a part of this specification.

This invention relates to differential. driving mechanism especially designed for use in thc propulsion of motor vehicles, and consists in the construction and arrangement of parts hereinaftcr more fully set forth and pointed out particr-ilarly in the claim.

The object of the invention is to provide simple and eflicient means through the, oper ation of which both traction wheels of an automobile or motor vehicle may be positively driven, the arrangement being such as to allow either wheel to coast or over run the driving member; provision being made for returning the pants to the neutral position from either the forward or backward driving position when the motion of the driving shaftis stopped.

The above object is accomplished by the mechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which Figure 1 is an enlarged sectional view through the differential housing which cm braces the ends of the divided axle, and through the differential driving mechanism located therein, the ends of the shaft secelevation. Fig. 2 is a segregated View partly in section of the differential driving mechanism. Fig. 3 is a fragmentary view in section, as on line 3-45 of Fig. 1, showing the initial or neutral position of the parts. Fig. 4 is a similar View showing the position of parts when driving "hhead. Fig. 5 is a perspective View of one of the locking pawls. live view of one of the springs employed. to

Fig. 6 is av perspecrcturn the pawls to a neutral position.

Referring to the characters of reference. 1 and 2 designate the axle sections respectively, on which are mounted the traction wheels, not shown. Embracing the differential mechanism is a housing 3 into which Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Sept. 2, 1913.

Serial No. 623,729.

extends the driving shaft 4 carrying a beveled pinion 5. Loosely mounted over the terminals of the axle sections a twopart case 6 the sides of which are bolted together through the medium of the screw bolts 7, clearly shown in Fig. 2. This case is of suilicicnt size to freely embrace the cage 8 and the parts of said case are. provided with extending sleeves 9 and 10, respectively, which are journaled in the bearings 11 and Formed in the meeting edges of the parts of the case 6 on opposite sides are registering recesses 13 for purposes herein-- after cxpl: ned. The inner ends of the axle sections i and 2 are squared. as shown at 1 and a1. held in axial alinementby a reduced earnsion 15 projecting from the end of shaft section 2 and entering a corresponding socket in the end of section 1, as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 1. By this means the ends of the shaft sections are held in axial alinement and are permitted to rotate independently. The cage- 8 which is located within the case. (3 receives t e squared ends of the shaft sections, and mounted upon the squared end of each of said sha t sections within said cage is a ratchet 16. Projecting from the periphery of the cage 8 on opposite sides are the lugs 7 which lie freely in the diametrically opposed recesses 18 in the wall of the case 6. It will be noted on referring to Figs. 3 and 4 that the length of said recesses is greater than the length of said lugs, thereby allowing a limited independent movement between the cage and case. To the annular flange 19 of the case 6 is secured a gear ring 20 which meshes with thc'pinion 5 and through the medium of which the case 6 is rotated by the turning of the shaft- 4. The hubs 21 of the ratchcts extend through the sides of the cage 8 and serve as journal bearings for the cage. the terminals of said hubs projecting into recesses or sockets in the sides of the case 6 around the shaft openings therethrough. By this arrangements loi'igitudinal shifting of the case 6 is prevented, while the shaft sections are permitted to turn freely within the case and cage.

Within the cage 8 are two opposed sets of double acting pawls 22 which are pivotally mounted upon the transverse pins 23 supported at their terminals in the sides of said cage. Projecting from each 'of said pawls isan arm 24 having a slot 25 in the v ployed the coiled springs 27 having straight central portions 28 which lie in the slots 25 in the ends of said arms, and which are confined therein by the transverse pins 29, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4c. The end of the springs 27 are secured in the recesses 30 between the meeting faces of the sides of the case 6 which communicate with the slotted openings 13 by means of the laterally pro jecting pins 31 set in said recesses and engaging the terminals of said springs. The tension of the springs 27 is normally exerted to maintain the arms 24 of the pawls centrally of the Openings 13 and hold said pawls in the neutral position when the parts are at rest, as shown in Fig. 3, in which position the ratchets 16 on theends of the shaft sections are free to revolve in either direction.

In the operation of this device, the initial rotation of the case 6 in the direction of the arrow shown in Fig. e through the medium of the pinion 5 and gear ring 20 will cause said case to have a slight rotary movement about the cage 8 which at the start remains at rest. This initial movement of the case will draw upon the arms 24 of the pawls through the medium of the'springs 27 and swing said pawls upon their pivots 23 in a manner to cause them to engage the ratchets 16. The parts have such operative relation that immediately following the actuation of the pawls which effects their engagement with the ratchets 16, the terminal of the recesses 18 in the case will engage the lugs 17 on the cage and effect a driving connection between the cage and case, which driving connection is transmitted through the pawls of the cage and the ratchets 16 to the shaft sections, thereby causing the shaft sections to turn with the case at the same rate of speed and efiecting a positive drive for each of the traction wheels. lVhile this arrangement affords a positive drive for the shaft sections, it also allows either shaft section to run ahead faster than its driving member to permit the outside Wheel to turn faster than the wheel on the inside when turning a corner or when rounding a curve. The arrangement also allows either shaft section to turn faster thanthe driving member when eoastin In these cases the ratchets will turn aster than the cage is rotating, and the teeth thereof will slip past the teeth of the pa'wls. When reversing the direction of rotation of the driving shaft 4, the same operation takes place in the reverse direction, enabling the vehicle to be driven backwardly, the spring connection between the case and the pawls of the cage actuatin said pawls on their pivots at each change in the direction of rotation of the case to effect the necessary driving connection between the cage and the shaft sections in advance of the driving connection which is effected between the cage and case through the medium of the recesses in the former which receivethe lugs on the latter. With the parts in the neutral posi tion, as shown in Fig. 1, either of the traction wheels may berevolved freely in either direction independently of the other.

Having thus fully set forth my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

A differential mechanism comprising a divided shaft, a ratchet fixed on the end of each shaft sect-ion, a cage rotatable independently of the shaft sections embracing said ratchet, .pawls pivoted in said cage adapted to effect a driving engagement with said ratchets but normally free from engagement therewith, a rotary driving case embracing said cage, said case having a re cess in the inner wall thereof, an arm projecting from each of said pawls extending into said recess, a spring connected at its center to the end of each arm and having its ends fastened to said case, whereby the initial m0vement.0f said case in cit-her direction will actuate said pawls upon their pivots, the wall of the case having curved re cesses therein, and lugs upon said cage lying freely within said recesses to effect a driving connection between the cage and the case and to allow an independent movement of the latter.

In testimony whereof, I sign this specification in the presence of two witnesses.

THEODORE L. BEGUHN.

WVitnesses:

O. B. BAENZIGER,

I. G. HOWLETT.

Copies of this patent be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C. 

